Ross-on-Wye 2nds headed to Hanley Castle and Upton, hoping to record their first win of the season. The team, however, were ultimately beaten in a thrilling low-scoring encounter.

Heavy rain through the week had prevented the hosts from cutting their outfield, but this did not deter Ross skipper Richard Jeffryes from batting first on winning the toss.

As expected, runs and especially boundaries, were very difficult to come by and Ross lost wickets steadily throughout the afternoon against accurate home bowling. Only Andrew Stacey, Charlie Cole and Mark DeCloedt got to grips with the conditions and whilst a total of just 97 was worth far more, it felt 20 runs light of a winning score at the tea interval.

The Hanley openers then set about the Ross bowling and very quickly took their score to 40 before the slower paced change bowlers Charlie Cole and Jeffryes began to work their magic with 4 very quick wickets between them, the highlight of which was Steve Cole’s own close encounter with the second of two alien objects that had hurtled towards him through burning sunlight at mid off. From 55-4, the intelligence of experienced Hanley pair of St Leger-Chambers and Hobbs saw them take the score into the 70s before Andrew Stacey brought Ross back into the game again with two further breakthroughs.

St Leger-Chambers kept Ross at bay despite Charlie Cole’s late efforts to turn the game as he bagged two further wickets to give him 10 for the season. With the last man blocking out one delivery it was left to Hanley’s mainstay to score the winning runs and give the hosts victory by one wicket.

The defeat leaves Ross 2nd bottom of the table and they return to The Park on Saturday against high flying Stourport in pursuit of that elusive first victory of the season.